Virginia authorities are searching for a mother and her three young kids who have been missing for more than a week, WSLS-TV reports.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office says 30-year-old Lauren Cook and the children were last seen around September 5 after they did not show up at a family member’s home.
The woman’s loved ones reportedly tried to find her initially over several days before reporting the situation to law enforcement.
Cook is married and had been living with her husband at the time of the disappearance, and they both share custody of the kids, whose photos have been posted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website.
Investigators are not sure whether the situation may be a result of a dispute between Cook and her husband.
Franklin County Sheriff’s Sgt. Megan Huston said the husband is concerned.
“He’s upset, as any parent would be, of ‘where are my children at,'” Huston told ABC13. “We don’t have any signs that she is in danger, but we’re just trying to locate them and make sure they’re safe.”
Police have no records of domestic violence between the couple or any calls for service to their residence.
Authorities say the mother and kids could be in a blue 2013 Chrysler van with Virginia a license plate. But few other details are known publicly. There has been no activity on Cook’s bank or cell phone accounts since September 7, and the last known phone ping was in Lexington.
“The last time that Lauren Cook and her children were seen or heard from family was around September 5, 6 area, and since then they have just not been able to have any communication with her,” Huston told WSLS-TV. “We’re just trying to assist in the search to locate her and her children to make sure that they’re safe.”
Huston clarified that this is not a situation in which one parent without custody takes off with their kids.
“Usually you see where a non-custodial parent will run off with the kids, which is not this situation,” Huston told ABC13. “There is concern as to where she is at and where the kids are at after it has been over a week now since anybody has had communication with her.”
Cook is described as 5-foot-1 with long brown hair and brown eyes. The eldest child, 7-year-old Benjamin, has blonde hair and blue eyes, while 5-year-old Hannah has blonde hair and brown eyes and 2-year-old Elijah has blonde hair and blue eyes.
To report any information about the location of Cook or the children, call the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 540-483-3000.
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[Feature Photo: Ben, Hannah, and Elijah/Franklin County Sheriff’s Office]
